
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Halloween Spooktacular: Pretty Monsters by Kelly Link

October Book of the Month: An In Your Room Playlist

Happy Thursday everyone!
We interrupt this week's Halloween Spooktacular feature to bring you the last tidbit of October's BotM feature:
Music plays a bit of a role in this month's book, In Your Room, so I asked Jordanna Fraiberg if she'd share with us her In Your Room Playlist. Here's what she came up with:This is a playlist of songs that inspired me while writing In Your Room and/or are featured in it. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!
1. Such Great Heights (The Postal Service)
2. Together (The Raconteurs)
3. Digital Love (Daft Punk)
4. Reckoner (Radiohead)
5. Synchronicity (The Police)
6. Breathe me (Sia)
7. I Feel it All (Feist)
8. Brand New Colony (The Postal Service)
9. Hide and Seek (Imogen Heap)
10. Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels) (The Arcade Fire)
11. Viva La Vida (Coldplay)
12. The Predatory Wasp of the Palisades (Sufjan Stevens)
13. No One (Alicia Keys)
14. Yellow (Coldplay)
Thanks Jordanna! And thanks so much for taking the time to visit with us this month (and for letting me try my movie-making skills on your book!)! It was loads of fun!
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Halloween Spooktacular: Witch High by Various Authors

Tuesday, October 28, 2008
The Memorist by M.J. Rose

As part of M.J. Rose's blog tour, and a bit of an unusual and thrilling contribution to this week's Halloween Spooktacular event, here's a review of The Memorist.
Meer is plagued by snatches of memories, "dreads" that seem familiar but seem to be without a source, and always present with strange and perplexing music. But when she encounters a strange letter, Meer is compelled to travel Vienna, Austria, tantalized by the opportunity to uncover the real reasons behind these dreads. She uncovers a mysterious reincarnationist community and learns of a man named David, who lost his family at the hands of terrorists, and is bent on ensuring that their deaths not be forgotten through violent acts of his own…
The Memorist is an exciting and highly suspenseful book readers won't be able to shake easily. A combination of past and present, history, and elements of mystery, Rose has crafted an unconventional thriller that will not only entertain, but will make you think. The gripping and wonderfully candid style makes it easy to become immersed into the plot, and Rose cleverly gives readers little glimpses into Meer's past lives and reveals the actions of other characters while keeping her main character ignorant, resulting in a gripping and well drawn out read with an explosive ending that will remind readers to not forget the past lest it haunt them in the days yet to come.
MJ's website: http://www.mjrose.com/content/index.asp
Read an excerpt here: http://www.mjrose.com/books/memorist.asp?BookVar=Excerpt
Buying info:
Amazon.com
BarnesandNoble.com
Indiebound.org
Booksamillion.com
Video Trailer
Sign up form for MJ's newsletter with info about new releases, free book downloads, contests, etc.: http://list-manage.com/subscribe?u=19a710cad82d4c29b3557871d&id=234093c27c
TLC Tours: http://tlcbooktours.wordpress.com/2008/08/28/mj-rose-author-of-the-memorist-on-tour-octnov-2008/
PLUS (last like, I promise!), MJ is giving away a copy of her other book, The Reincarnationist! Go here.
(P.S. Sorry about the lack of posts! My automatic posting thing went haywire! I'm catching up right now!)
Monday, October 27, 2008
Halloween Spooktacular: Wondrous Strange by Lesley Livingston

Okay, so we've all heard a little bit of the history and myths surrounding Halloween, or Samhain if you want to get really technical. It's supposedly the one night a year that all the spooks and creepy things escape into our world, wreaking havoc, thus inspiring mere mortals to dress up, which snowballed into an entire holiday filled with candy and costumes and scary movies, oh my!
Kelley is a young actress, trying to make ends meet working as a stage hand and understudy in a production of A Midsummer Night's Dream in New York City. One night while practicing her lines in Central Park, she meets Sonny, who, unbeknownst to the mortal world, guards the Samhain Gate to the
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Halloween Spooktacular: Love is Hell

Do you like to keep your reads short and spooky? Well, you're in luck--HarperTeen has compiled two great anthologies of paranormal stories by some of the best YA authors (Stephenie Meyer, Scott Westerfeld, Melissa Marr, Meg Cabot) out there--with a romantic twist.
Prom Nights From Hell by Meg Cabot, Michele Jaffe, Stephenie Meyer, Lauren Myracle, and Kim Harrison
In this exciting collection, bestselling authors Meg Cabot (How to Be Popular), Kim Harrison (A Fistful of Charms), Michele Jaffe (Bad Kitty), Stephenie Meyer (Twilight), and Lauren Myracle (ttyl) take bad prom nights to a whole new level—a paranormally bad level. Wardrobe malfunctions and two left feet don't hold a candle to discovering your date is the Grim Reaper—and he isn't here to tell you how hot you look.
From angels fighting demons to a creepy take on getting what you wish for, these five stories will entertain better than any DJ in a bad tux. No corsage or limo rental necessary. Just good, scary fun.

Love is Hell by Scott Westerfeld, Justine Larbalestier, Laurie Faria Stolarz, Melissa Marr, and Gabrielle Zevin
In these supernatural stories by five of today's hottest writers—Melissa Marr (Wicked Lovely), Scott Westerfeld (Specials), Justine Larbalestier (Magic or Madness), Gabrielle Zevin (Elsewhere), and Laurie Faria Stolarz (Blue is for Nightmares)—love may be twisted and turned around, but it's more potent than ever on its quest to conquer all.
From two students who let the power of attraction guide them to break the hard-and-fast rules of their world to the girl who falls hard for a good-looking ghost with a score to settle, the clever, quirky characters in this exciting collection will break your heart, then leave you believing in love more than ever.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Halloween Spooktacular

They are all eager for their eighteenth birthdays, when they will be initiated into the inner circle of their coven along with their mothers and learn all of the coven's secrets. But as their birthdays start to pass by, Jules—the youngest of the witches—begins to realize that there is more going on in the coven than what their mothers are letting on, and her friends can't talk about—something that she's finding that she can't condone.
Along for the Ride Cover Revealed!

Aurelia by Anne Osterlund Book Trailer
Thursday, October 23, 2008
October Book of the Month: An Interview with Jordanna Fraiberg
Today Jordanna Fraiberg, author of our Book of the Month, In Your Room, was kind enough to sit down and take a moment to answer a few questions about her debut novel.
How did you come about the idea for the premise of In Your Room?
I came up with the premise during the first five minutes of watching the first Sisterhood movie. I had not yet read the books, but at the time I was still a film exec, so from that perspective, I was wondering how they were going to pull off the movie while all four main characters are mostly apart (we were actually just about to hire the director for another project, which is why I was watching it). That's when all of a sudden I wondered how two strangers could fall in love while being apart and living in each other's rooms. I pitched the idea to my agent, the fabulous Kate Lee, who loved the idea so that's how it all started.
Do you have any talent for making clothes like Molly?
I wish I had that talent! One of my close friends, Mireille, used to make her own clothes in high school. I was always so impressed with how effortlessly she pulled off her unique style, and how confident she was doing so, just like Molly. When I was in India during my junior year of college for a semester abroad, my friend Maggie and I used to visit this local tailor every day and bring him designs we drew in our journals. We'd choose the fabric and within a day or two, we had our brand new garment for practically pennies in US currency. I can't say I was talented, but it was so much fun. It was also an excuse for us to practice the Hindi we were learning while we were there with the tailor and his family who lived behind the shop.
What was one of your favorite books when you were a teen?
The Judy Blume books. Blubber and Are You There God? It's Me Margaret are the top contenders. I also loved Lord of the Flies. It was the first book where I learned about symbolism in a meaningful way.
Do you have any weird "writing quirks" you'd be willing to share?
Is procrastination a quirk? if so, I have it in spades. Sometimes it feels like ideas are ballooning in my head, and it's like they're ready to burst unless I sit down and spew them out. I like to experiment with my schedule, but ultimately, as long as I get a certain word count in a day, it doesn't always matter when or where I write. I go through long stretches of writing in my home office. Other times I go to coffee shops. Sometimes it will be the same one for an extended period; sometimes I'll do a coffee shop "tour" and go to a different one every day to experience different parts of LA. I try to have a mix of inspiration and discipline.
What are you writing now?
I'm writing a new YA novel for Razorbill, with a (hopefullyl!) juicy love story at its center.
If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
Heal the sick to get rid of disease.
What are you going to be for Halloween?
Good question. I usually figure it out on the day itself, which either leads to great inspiration (the time I was a fortune teller and met my future husband four years ago!) or a total flop (the time I dressed up as a beatnik, replete with black turtle neck, beret and fake beauty mark and NOBODY knew who I was! although I was the only warm female at the outdoor party, that's for sure, and it was worth it!)
What was the hardest aspect of writing In Your Room? What was the easiest?
The hardest part was getting the first draft down on paper and writing through the story. I think it was especially difficult because I was really nervous that my editor was going to hate it, since Razorbill bought the book off a partial manuscript. Once I got the first draft done, it was much easier having it to work from. I had such amazing guidance and support from Razorbill, so once I relaxed, it became a really joyful process honing the story and really finding the love and connection between Molly and Charlie. It's sometimes easy to forget that the best part about writing is what you discover along the way.
Anything I didn't ask that you wish I had?
Nothing, these were great questions!
Thanks so much, Jordanna!
Now, some of you may have noticed a rather lack of posts lately...that's because I've been experimenting with making book trailers, which is actually surprisingly easy once you get the hang of it. Anyways, my first attempt was to make a trailer for In Your Room. There are a few flaws (like the type, which was easy to see in the program, is now a bit hard to see in the video), but for the most part, I'm happy with it. Let me know what you think about, and if anyone has any tips, I'd really appreciate hearing them!
Monday, October 20, 2008
Ever by Gail Carson Levine

Saturday, October 18, 2008
Top 8 by Katie Finn

You can tell just by glancing at Madison MacDonald's Friendverse page that her life is pretty fantastic. She's got two best friends, a great new boyfriend, the lead role in the school play, and she's headed to the Galapagos Islands for Spring Break.
But when she comes back, she gets a major shock when she finds that everyone hates her--all because her Friendverse profile was hacked, her boyfriend is now her ex, and everyone's dirty secrets spilled. Mad is nothing but resilient, and with the aid of her friends and perhaps even the cute guy she met on vacation, she sets out to find out who hacked her--with some surprising results.
Teens who are addicts to Facebook and MySpace won't help but empathize with Mad and the "horror" of being hacked. The novel, despite the drama of hurtful rumors and gossip, maintains a pretty light tone, and is full of humor and angst. Readers may feel apprehension towards Mad's somewhat pretentious ways, but they won't be able to keep themselves for cherring for her as she becomes aware of the pain her whispered words carry when written for everyone to see, and begins to realize what some people truly think of her.
Also reviewed for Book Divas.
Friday, October 17, 2008
Fun Friday: Enter the Teens Talk Giveaway!
Happy Friday! Be sure to enter the Teens Talk Giveaway, which will run until next week. There will be four winners, so more chances to win! Good luck!
Read a good book this weekend,
TCR
Thursday, October 16, 2008
October Book of the Month: Guest Blog from Jordanna Fraiberg: Day of Firsts
Hello readers!
I'm so honored to be a guest blogger on this fabulous site. It's especially exciting because today is publication day. Woo hoo!
Not only is it my first time experiencing publication day, but this is my very first guest blog post. Wish me luck. On both fronts.
So, friends. What shall we discuss? I was thinking for starters, I can take you through the lead up to the BIG DAY. Or at least my process. Which is more like a roller coaster than a process. Here's how it goes:
Part 1
1. Sell book based on partial manuscript. OMG. OMG. Dream come true.
2. Oh crap. Sold book on partial manuscript. Now must complete book.
3. Figure out how to complete said manuscript while working long hours at another job. It can only take a miracle.
4. After much effort, finally type "the end," hit "save," and send first draft to editor several weeks past the deadline.
5. Realize I hit send and cannot take it back.
6. Remember that book was sold as a partial. Panic. They might hate it.
7. Go on much needed vacation and forget about it.
8. Receive wonderful, encouraging, not-at-all scary notes from my amazing editor.
9. Get back to work.
10. Finish several rounds of revisions.
11. Go through copy edits and final proof.
12. Wait for publication
Here's where Part 2 kicks in.
Months and months go by and then, all of a sudden, publication day is almost here. I've spent the last few days preparing myself for what I've been told is the anti-climax of the big day. So I've been downplaying it all to myself, thinking it's just a day like any other. No big deal.
But you know what? It is a big deal. I woke up in the best mood and it feels great. It feels kind of like it's your birthday, only instead of presents, you get the most amazingly sweet and supportive emails from friends and family and readers.
I haven't seen the book on shelves yet, and I'm sure it will be great when I do. But the thing that feels so good is that this really is a dream come true after many years of hard and consistent (and sometimes not-so-consistent) work. It's something you feel internally when you know you're on the right path, doing what you love.
My point in sharing this is to really say just that: do what you love. Whether it's going for walks, painting, listening to music, reading, playing a sport. Whatever it is, the more you do the things you love in life, the more you'll connect to yourself -- your true self. And there's nothing like that feeling of knowing you're being true to who you are, feeding that part of yourself, dare I even say, your soul?
I know this because writing is my current path, but not my first. I have learned that no matter what you do and where you go, you can always hold on to that part of yourself and find ways to connect to it.
Happy reading and I would love to hear from you!
Jordanna
Help Yourself Out

Are you getting the mid-fall blues? Schoolwork overwhelming you? Well, here's a book for you.
Peer pressure: we all know about it. If you haven't experienced it yourself, then you've most certainly heard it being rehashed by parents, teachers, and counselors for ages. And most everyone knows firsthand how peer pressure can be a confusing thing--it can make us doubt our beliefs when it comes to sex, drugs, alcohol, cheating, and stealing, and cause rifts between teens and parents.
Here's where Dr. Lisa Medoff's Stressed Out Student's Guide to Handling Peer Pressure comes in. She's written a book that sorts everything out, and gives a whole new perspective on the issues. Her advice is frank, truthful, and very sensible, and gives both teens and parents a comprehensive view from both perspectives. Dr. Medoff's advice may seem slightly preachy, but she has a way of knowing exactly how teens feel, and her accurate facts and helpful strategies makes her guide invaluable--Stressed Out Student's Guide to Handling Peer Pressure is a very effective and highly useful read.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Dear Julia by Amy Bronwen Zemser

Tuesday, October 14, 2008
The Forest of Hands and Teeth Widget Countdown
So the fact that I made this widget, all by myself, is something to marvel at. Granted, it's not nearly as nic as most out there, but I am proud of it nonetheless. Also, I really want this book. I'm burning for it, no exaggeration. The release date of The Forest of Hands and Teeth will be an epic day.

Teens Talk

Already Perfect
Use what talents you possess; the woods would be very silent if no birds
sang except those that sang best.
~ Henry van Dyke
Everyone can identify with the need to fit in. Each one of us
struggles with self-esteem and self-worth to some degree. I spent
much of my time striving to achieve perfection in every aspect of my
life. What I did not realize was that in my desperate need to be
perfect, I sacrificed the very body and mind that allowed me to live.
I was a happy kid with lots of friends and a supportive family. But
growing up was really hard and even scary sometimes.
During my childhood, I was constantly involved in something that
included an audience viewing my achievements or my failures. I was
into acting by age seven, and progressed to training for and competing
in gymnastics, horseback riding and dance - - all of which required
major commitment, discipline and strength. My personality thrived on
the high energy required to keep up. I wanted everyone’s praise and
acceptance, but I was my own toughest critic.
After I graduated from high school and moved out on my own, my
struggles with self-esteem and happiness increased. I began to put
pressure on myself to succeed in the adult world. Meanwhile, I was
feeling very inadequate and unsuccessful. I started to believe that my
difficulties and what I perceived to be my “failures” in life were
caused by my weight. I had always been a thin-to-average sized
person. Suddenly, I was convinced that I was overweight. In my
mind, I was FAT!
Slowly, my inability to be “thin” began to torture me. I found myself
involved in competition again. But this time, I was competing against
myself. I began to control my food by trying to diet, but nothing
seemed to work. My mind became obsessed with beating my body at
this game. I slowly cut back on what I ate each day. With every
portion I didn’t finish or meal I skipped, I told myself that I was
succeeding, and in turn, I felt good about myself.
Thus began a downward spiral of my becoming what is known as
anorexic. The dictionary defines it as “suppressing or causing loss of
appetite, resulting in a state of anorexia.” When taken to an extreme,
anorexia can cause malnutrition and deprive the body of the important
vitamins and minerals that it needs to be healthy.
In the beginning, I felt great - - attractive, strong, successful, almost
superhuman. I could do something others couldn’t: I could go without
food. It made me feel special, and that I was better than everyone else.
What I didn’t see was that I was slowly killing myself.
People around me began to notice my weight loss. At first they
weren’t alarmed; maybe some were even envious. But then the
comments held a tone of concern. “You’re losing too much weight.”
“Elisa, you’re so thin.” “You look sick.” “You’ll die if you keep this
up.” All their words only reassured me that I was on the right path,
getting closer to “perfection.”
Sadly, I made my physical appearance the top priority in my life,
believing that it was the way to become successful and accepted. As
an actress, I am constantly being judged by my appearance. The
camera automatically makes people appear heavier than they are. So I
was getting mixed messages like, “Elisa, you are so skinny, but you
look great on camera.”
I cut back on my food more and more, until a typical day consisted of
half a teaspoon of nonfat yogurt and coffee in the morning, and a cup
of grapes at night. If I ate even a bite more than my allotted “crumbs”
for the day, I hated myself and took laxatives to rid my body of
whatever I had eaten.
It got to the point where I no longer went out with my friends. I
couldn’t - - if I went to dinner, what would I eat? I avoided their
phone calls. If they wanted to go to the movies or just hang out at
home, I couldn’t be there - - what if food was around? I had to be
home alone to eat my little cup of grapes. Otherwise, I thought I was
failing. Everything revolved around my strict schedule of eating. I
was embarrassed to eat in front of anyone, believing that they would
think I was gluttonous and ugly.
My poor nutrition began to cause me to lose sleep. I found it hard to
concentrate on my work or to focus on anything for any length of
time. I was pushing myself harder and harder at the gym, struggling to
burn the calories that I hadn’t even eaten. My friends tried to help me
but I denied that I had a problem. None of my clothes fit, and it was
hard to buy any, since I had shrunk to smaller than a size zero!
Then one night, like so many nights before, I couldn’t sleep, and my
heart felt as though it might beat its way out of my chest. I tried to
relax, but I couldn’t.
The beating became so rapid and so strong that I could no longer
breathe. The combination of starving myself and taking pills to get rid
of anything that I did eat caused me to nearly have a heart attack. I
stood up, and immediately fell down. I was really scared, and I knew I
needed help. My roommate rushed me to the hospital, beginning the
long road to my recovery. It took doctors, nurses, nutritionists,
therapists, medications, food supplements... and most important, a
new sense of what was really true about myself to get back on track
with reality.
Recovering from what I did to my body and reprogramming the way I
think about myself has been a very slow and extremely painful
process. I still struggle with the effects of anorexia every day.
Although it has been a couple of years since that hospital visit, it is by
no means over for me. I must be honest with myself and stay
committed to being healthy.
I had used my anorexia as a means of expression and control. I used it
as my gauge for self-esteem and self-worth. It was my identity. Now I
realize that the way to success lies in my heart, mind and soul, rather
than in my physical appearance.
I now use my intelligence, my talents and acts of kindness to express
myself. This is true beauty, and it has nothing to do with the size of
my body. With my experience of trying to be “perfect” on the outside,
I had sacrificed who I was on the inside. What I know now is, we are
- - each and every one of us - - already perfect.
~ Elisa Donovan
Monday, October 13, 2008
Cool Sites
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

Nick is trying to get over his ex and move on with his life with the help of his band. Norah is practical and tough, and looking for a guy who is into music, but not into her because of who her dad is. When Nick asks her to be his girlfriend for five minutes, rather than flat out refusing, she sees an opportunity of a ride home for her drunken friend and responds with a kiss. But Norah might have bitten off more than she can chew when she soon finds fifty bucks shoved at her by Nick's friends and a request to make sure he has a good time to help him get over his ex…
And so begins one wild, tumultuous, and exhilarating night. Both Nick and Norah's voices blend together to give vibrant life to an edgy, modern, and completely real novel that explores the unique connection that two people can share. Cohn and Levithan capture the vibrancy and urgency of lust and love, set against the spectacular backdrop of New York City's music scene, and aren’t afraid to imbue the novel with realistic dialogue, mannerisms, and topics that are relevant to teens today. Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist is a thrilling, hilarious read—as catchy as your favorite song, and as gritty and real as it gets, and it sure to bowl readers over.
Friday, October 10, 2008
Thursday, October 9, 2008
October Book of the Month: Meet Jordanna Fraiberg

Monday, October 6, 2008
Eon: Dragoneye Reborn by Alison Goodman

Eon: Dragoneye Reborn is a strange and intensely compelling read. Based off of Chinese and Japanese myths and legends, it is an exhilarating blend of mystery, suspense, and foreign culture and habits that will engross and entertain readers to no end. Eona's character is very honest, and despite her insistence at being considered male, her true voice and nature rings out clearly, making her a highly appealing character whose motives and struggles are completely relatable.
Saturday, October 4, 2008
The September Sisters by Jillian Cantor
Thursday, October 2, 2008
October Book of the Month: In Your Room by Jordanna Fraiberg

In Your Room was surprisingly candid and refreshingly humorous and human. The story is fast paced, and Fraiberg's clever writing downplays the predictability of the plot, forcing you to look at the novel with new eyes. Molly is an unpretentious character, but yet she has slightly selfish feelings about her mother's new marriage, and Charlie, despite being thoughtful, imaginative, and funny, has his faults as well. It's these imperfections in the lead characters that lend to the plot twists in order to In Your Room an enjoyable, quick, and relaxing read that you'll want to visit again and again.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
2008 Cybils Awards
Just a quick not to let you all know that The Cybils 2008 Children's and Young Adult Bloggers' Literary Awards nominations are open! These guys are really good at what they do, and have everything impeccably organized! I'm serving as a panelist for the fantasy and science fiction category, so go get your butts over there and start nominating! Here's the link. I'm looking forward to seeing your nominations!
TCR